Month: December 2022

Posted in Personal Thoughts, Religion

Cleansed and Made New

Posted on by Melissa

As you can see in this picture, there are two communion cups. The one on the left is used, stained, dusty, and dirty. The one on the right is new, clean, and clear. I have had the one on the left on my mantle above the fireplace since Christmas Eve of 2019. Now, I am not normally in the habit of keeping the cups when I receive communion, but this time was different as I will explain.

Since 2019 was one of the years my home church was not having a Christmas Eve Service, I looked around for another local United Methodist Church which I could attend that evening. I chose one nearby for the main reason that the Pastor of this church was someone I had known all my life, considered a friend, and whom I had (and still have) a great deal of respect for. At the end of the service as he prepared to serve the Sacrament of Holy Communion he told us that upon receiving the sacrament to hold onto our cup, take it home, and keep it. To be fair, I’m certain he never intended us to keep it as long as I have kept mine. But, I’m glad I have.

After all these years, I don’t remember the exact words he used that night. Essentially, though, he asked us to keep it for awhile as a reminder. Each time we looked at it and saw the stain of the grape juice we would be reminded of our Christ the Savior who can cleanse the stain of sin within us and make us whole and pure again. So, I did. And it was a great reminder. I had all intentions of eventually throwing it in the trash. But it would blend into the background for a bit basically become invisible. Then I would notice it again, be reminded of its significance, and think I’ll keep it a little longer. Weeks became months and there it remained, cycling through moments of blending in and inspiring my faith.

When I walked in that church that Christmas Eve as a visitor one of the first people to greet me was the wife of this Pastor. She too was someone I had known all my life, considered a friend, and had a great deal of respect for. She was a true joy to be around and had a beautiful and welcoming smile. Circumstances didn’t allow me to see either of these two people very often, but any time I saw either one of them I felt loved. About six months after this service she passed away. The next time that stained communion cup caught my eye I was reminded that Christmas Eve service was the last time I had seen her. After that, I could never bring myself to throw it away because it then played a role as another reminder to me in my life. It reminded me of a wonderful and beautiful soul that I had been privileged to know.

I realize that was a lot of back story to get to the actual point of this post. But, for me at least, it is an important part of the story I wanted to share. I realize that this stained and dirty communion cup is not going to invoke the same deep feelings in any one of you. What I do hope is that the juxtaposition of it in regards to a new clean cup beside the cross can inspire you as we head into a new year.

The end of the year always inspires reflection. We look back to where we’ve been, what we’ve done, and who we were. We also begin to look forward to where we want to go, what we want to do, and who we want to be. If we are honest with ourselves we all have regrets. And many of us feel stained, dirty, dusty, and maybe even used. Just like the cup on the left. The good news is that if we bring ourselves to the cross of Jesus we can be transformed to be like the cup on the right. We can be cleansed and made new. A simple prayer is all it takes.

The better news is that this does not just have to happen at the end of a calendar year. It can happen any day. It can happen every day if it needs to. We live in a messy and broken world. And even on our best days when we give our whole heart and soul into being a faithful Christian, we can find ourselves feeling like a mess and feeling broken. God does not want us feeling that way. God is constantly at work within us making us like the cup on the right. Go into the new year knowing that every day God is willing to be at work in your life picking you up, dusting you off, and making you clean – if you will let him. And share that Good News with others.

Posted in Poetry

Let There Be – A Poem

Posted on by Melissa 

Let There Be
by Melissa Peeler

The Word Spoke.
Let There Be. . .
and There Was.
and There Is.
and There Ever Will Be.

The Word Dwelt.
Creator joined Creation.
Intimately and Incarnately.

The Word still Speaks and Dwells.
Let There Be Hope.
Let There Be Love.
Let There Be Joy.
Let There Be Peace.

There Was.
Is.
Ever Will Be.


Melissa Peeler
Composed: November 30, 2022

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Posted in Christmas, Religion, Sunday Reflections

Fear Not! – A Christmas Message

Posted on by Melissa

I have watched A Charlie Brown Christmas countless times over the years. It is one of the shows I always try to get in during the season. Yet, it wasn’t until a couple years ago that I read an article that pointed out something I had missed over the years. It’s a very subtle action that takes place in the show. But within that subtle action lies a very impactful and meaningful lesson for us all.

Near the end, Charlie Brown in exasperation exclaims, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

Linus responds, “Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.” He then takes center stage, calls for the lights to be dimmed, and recites Luke 2:8-14, the passage about the angels appearing to the shepherds. I’m sure you all have seen this numerous times as well.

What I never noticed on my own was that at the exact moment Linus recites the words of the angel, “Fear Not” he drops his blanket on the ground. Yes, that blanket. The security blanket that Linus carried with him everywhere and never willingly parted with.

Now, most of us, especially as adults, don’t walk around carrying a security blanket with us everywhere we go. At least not visibly. Because if we are honest with ourselves, we do indeed carry invisible blankets with us all the time. We have our own worries, fears, and problems that plague us. And we also all have our own habits, thought patterns, and ways of dealing with those things. It is the old patterns and actions that become our security blankets. As do sometimes the worries, fears, and thoughts we carry. Sometimes, even unconsciously, we hold on to the same worries and doubts on purpose simply because the work of moving forward and through them can sometimes seem scary and hard. Because it is often scary and hard.

What we all need to hear and know is that the message for the shepherds is the same message for us still today. Fear Not. There is Good News. News to bring joy for all the people. A Savior has been born. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

As we continue through the time of Advent and through the season of Christmastide, I invite you to look within yourself. Consider the security blanket(s) you are carrying around with you daily. And hear the words of the angel to “Fear Not” and be like Linus and drop your blanket to the ground.

As I read other articles about this, many also point out that Linus picks the blanket back up and carries it off the stage with him. And, like Linus, we too will probably sometimes bend back down and pick up the blanket we have dropped. But at the end he gives us another lesson. He and the gang follow Charlie Brown home, whereupon he wraps the blanket around the base of the tree and all the others begin to decorate it. We all will probably go through many cycles of dropping and picking back up our own personal security blanket. Sometimes dropping old ones to pick up new ones. The Good News is that we too have a tree that we can approach and lay them at the base of as well. It is the tree that became the Cross of Christ where he died to save us all. Lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus. Leave them there. And move forward Fearing Not!